Our People

At Abbot Downing, you’ll work with a dedicated relationship manager who, along with dedicated team of professionals representing the five service areas, will deliver the most personalized service in the industry to you and your family. View Our Relationship Managers

Joel Alberts

Director - Abbot Downing

Los Angeles

Joel is a director in the Los Angeles office. In addition to managing client relationships, Joel’s experience includes working with closely-held business owners and addressing wealth transfer planning objectives.

Chris Cella

Director - Abbot Downing

San Francisco

Chris is a director in the San Francisco office of Abbot Downing. He is responsible for the overall management of client relationships, including asset management, planning and family dynamics, banking, and fiduciary services. Chris brings 10 years of in

Jason Cooper

Director - Abbot Downing

Chicago

Jason is a director in Abbot Downing’s Chicago office. He leads a team of wealth management specialists responsible for providing investment management solutions to families, non-profit organizations, and foundations.

David W. Edmiston

Managing Director - Abbot Downing

Atlanta

David is a senior vice president and managing director in Abbot Downing’s Atlanta office. He is responsible for the delivery of multi-family office, wealth transfer strategies, and financial planning services to Abbot Downing clients in the Southeast regi

Jennifer Elmore

Managing Director - Abbot Downing

Raleigh

Jennifer is a senior vice president and managing director in Abbot Downing’s Raleigh office where she specializes in managing relationships for multigenerational families. Her efforts involve a highly interactive, collaborative approach with client famili

Jay Goetschius

Managing Director - Abbot Downing

New York

Jay Goetschius is a managing director at Abbot Downing. He serves ultra-high-net-worth families and individuals, as well as endowments and foundations, in the New York metro area, New England, and Florida.

Courtney A. Grimsrud

Director - Abbot Downing

Minneapolis

Courtney Grimsrud is a director in Abbot Downing’s Minneapolis office where she is responsible for the management of client relationships. Courtney leads the team of wealth management specialists.

Dave Gutzke

Director - Abbot Downing

Minneapolis

David A. “Dave” Gutzke is a director in the Minneapolis office. As a relationship manager, Dave provides wealth advice to family offices, families, and individuals.

Chris Janc

Director - Abbot Downing

Chicago

Chris is a director in Abbot Downing’s Chicago office. He is responsible for managing ultra-high-net-worth client relationships in the Midwest region. Chris works with an integrated team of specialists to deliver Abbot Downing’s comprehensive wealth solu

Philip Jodz

Director - Abbot Downing

Philadelphia

Philip Jodz is a director in the Philadelphia office, where he is responsible for managing client relationships with an emphasis on fiduciary administration, wealth transfer and multigenerational planning for individuals and families.

Kayce King

Director - Abbot Downing

Winston-Salem

Kayce is a senior vice president and director in Abbot Downing’s Winston-Salem office with responsibility for managing the client relationships of ultra-high-net-worth, multigenerational families.

John B. Magevney

Managing Director - Abbot Downing

Jacksonville

John is a senior vice president and managing director in Abbot Downing’s Jacksonville office. He is responsible for the delivery of multi-family office, investment management, and financial planning services to clients throughout Abbot Downing’s Southeast

Chuck Maloney

Director - Abbot Downing

Minneapolis

Chuck Maloney is a director in the Minneapolis office. He is responsible for managing relationships of multigenerational families. Prior to Abbot Downing, he was a financial principal with Lowry Hill for over 15 years.

Denise E. McClain

Director - Abbot Downing

Scottsdale

Denise is a director in the Scottsdale office. At Abbot Downing, Denise draws on her past experiences to help clients develop and implement their wealth transfer plans and makes recommendations about wealth transfer and income tax saving strategies.

Wendy Morgan

Director - Abbot Downing

San Francisco

Wendy Morgan is a director in the San Francisco office. She is responsible for managing client relationships for the Northwest region of Abbot Downing.

Michael Morrone

Managing Director - Abbot Downing

San Francisco

Michael Morrone is a managing director in the San Francisco office. He is responsible for managing complex client relationships, including asset management, legacy and wealth planning, family dynamics, banking, and fiduciary services.

Todd Neal

Managing Director - Abbot Downing

Palm Beach

Todd is a senior vice president and managing director in Abbot Downing’s Palm Beach office. He was previously an advisor with Wells Fargo Family Wealth. Todd has past experience in wealth transfer and generational planning, tax, and investments. He has si

Nhaman Pelphrey

Director - Abbot Downing

Los Angeles

Nhaman is a director in the Los Angeles office. She manages complex multigenerational relationships for ultra-high-net-worth families.

Desiree D. Pierce

Director - Abbot Downing

Los Angeles

Desiree is a director in the Los Angeles office of Abbot Downing overseeing management of complex wealth, such as sophisticated wealth transfer planning techniques, business succession planning, investment management, charitable giving, and multigeneratio

Rick Rentschler

Associate Director - Abbot Downing

Scottsdale

Rick is an associate director in the Scottsdale office. He assists clients in the development and implementation of their wealth planning strategies.

Laurie Rivard

Director - Abbot Downing

Minneapolis

Laurie Rivard is a director in the Minneapolis office, managing client relationships for the Midwest region. Prior to Abbot Downing, she was a financial principal at Lowry Hill from 1993 to 2012.

James Rockwell

Managing Director - Abbot Downing

Minneapolis

Jim Rockwell is a managing director for the Midwest region. His responsibilities include advising clients with wealth transfer planning and administration. Jim was previously a financial principal and partner at Lowry Hill.

David R. Ruff

Director - Abbot Downing

Raleigh

David is a senior vice president and director in Abbot Downing’s Raleigh office with responsibility for managing complex relationships of ultra-high-net worth, multigenerational families. David leads a team of highly experienced wealth management professi

Angie Sabel

Managing Director - Abbot Downing

New York

Angie Sabel is a managing director in Abbot Downing’s New York office. She is responsible for providing clients with comprehensive relationship management and partnering with Abbot Downing’s specialists for asset management and planning.

Melanie Schmieding

Managing Director - Abbot Downing

Houston

Melanie is a managing director in Abbot Downing’s Houston office. She serves ultra-high-net-worth multigenerational families, family offices, foundations, and endowments.

David Smith

Director - Abbot Downing

Philadelphia

David is a director at Abbot Downing in the Philadelphia office. He is responsible for providing clients with comprehensive relationship management and partnering with Abbot Downing’s specialists for asset management and planning.

Michael J. Smolarski

Managing Director - Abbot Downing

Philadelphia

As a managing director at Abbot Downing, Michael Smolarski is responsible for providing comprehensive relationship management, including financial and estate planning services, for Abbot Downing’s clients.

Bradley Vialpando

Director - Abbot Downing

Palm Beach

Brad is a vice president and director in Abbot Downing’s Palm Beach office. He is responsible for the delivery of multi-family office, wealth planning, and financial planning services to our client families.

Vishal Wadhwa

Managing Director - Abbot Downing

San Francisco

Vishal is a managing director at Abbot Downing serving ultra-high-net-worth multigenerational families, family offices, foundations, and endowments in the San Francisco area. He is dedicated to delivering Abbot Downing's comprehensive wealth management se

Eric S. Williams

Managing Director - Abbot Downing

San Francisco

Eric Williams is a managing director in Abbot Downing’s San Francisco office where he is responsible for the overall management of client relationships.

Charles J. Wondra

Director - Abbot Downing

Winston-Salem

Chuck is a senior vice president and director in Abbot Downing’s Winston-Salem office. He is responsible for leading a team of wealth management specialists to serve the financial needs of multigenerational families and non-profit organizations.